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With Pablo Lopez on mound, Twins chase series win vs. A’s
The Minnesota Twins are looking to lock in a series win against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday afternoon. After a tough loss on Friday, the Twins bounced back with a dominant victory on Saturday and are eager to keep the momentum going. Meanwhile, the Athletics will be strategizing to counter Minnesota’s powerful offense.
Twins’ Offensive Dominance
The Twins turned things around after their 6-5 loss in the series opener, demolishing A’s left-hander JP Sears on Saturday. Minnesota’s bats were on fire, tagging Sears for eight runs in just 1 1/3 innings, leading to a 10-2 win. Manuel Margot’s home run and doubles from Byron Buxton, Willi Castro, and Jose Miranda fueled the offensive explosion.
Minnesota has been particularly effective against left-handed pitching, improving their record to 13-8 (.619) against lefty starters, while holding a 29-27 (.518) record against right-handed pitchers.
Celebrating Carlos Santana
Saturday’s victory also allowed the Twins to celebrate Carlos Santana’s 2,000th major league game properly. The milestone, which was initially overshadowed by Friday’s loss, got the recognition it deserved after their win.
“Guys like him who are able to play 2,000 games, they dedicate everything in their lives towards being able to fulfill that commitment to play baseball,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I like celebrating guys that dedicate their lives to something and set an example for all the people around them.”
Pitching Matchup
Hogan Harris (A’s)
- Record: 1-0, 2.37 ERA
- Recent Performance: Harris has been solid in his past four starts, with a 1.66 ERA. He earned his first win of the season in his latest start, allowing one earned run in five innings against the Kansas City Royals.
- Career vs. Twins: Allowed five runs in four innings in a 10-7 loss last July.
Pablo Lopez (Twins)
- Record: 6-6, 5.63 ERA
- Recent Performance: Lopez has had a rough June, failing to pitch into the sixth inning in any of his three starts this month. He holds a 1-1 record with a 9.69 ERA in June.
- Career vs. A’s: 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in three starts.
New Faces for the A’s
The A’s promoted infielder Armando Alvarez from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday after placing Abraham Toro on the injured list with a hamstring issue. Alvarez, a minor-league veteran, could make his major league debut on Sunday.
“Great story,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of Alvarez. “In spring training, we identified a bat that could probably get here at some point in the year. With Toro’s injury, we thought it was the right time to give this kid an opportunity.”
Game Dynamics and Expectations
- Twins: The Twins will look to Pablo Lopez to stabilize their pitching after a shaky month. Their potent offense, especially against left-handed pitchers, will be key to securing the series win.
- A’s: Hogan Harris aims to deliver a strong performance to slow down the Twins’ offense. The Athletics will need their bullpen to step up if Harris can’t go deep into the game.
Conclusion
The series finale between the Twins and A’s promises to be an exciting matchup. Minnesota aims to continue their offensive dominance and secure the series win, while Oakland looks to counter with a strong outing from Hogan Harris and potential contributions from new call-up Armando Alvarez. Key performances from pitchers Pablo Lopez and Hogan Harris will be crucial in determining the outcome.
